Community Highlights: Meet Lindsay Rae Pawlewicz

Today we’d like to introduce you to Lindsay Rae Pawlewicz.

Hi Lindsay Rae, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
For as long as I can remember, I’ve had a love of creativity. While my life and work have changed over the years, I’ve always found new ways to put my imagination to use. After studying musical theatre at the University of Oklahoma, I shipped off to New York, and a world of creative opportunities opened up to me.

I really cut my teeth in the events industry as the Director of Events at City Grit, Chef Sarah Simmons’ restaurant now-turned lifestyle brand recognized by Zagat in 2014 as “One of the Most Innovative Restaurants in the Country”. I got my feet wet there in various facets of the field, from planning to design. So, when musical theatre was slower moving for me than I’d hoped, I had the confidence to step out on my own. And that’s when my company, Lindsay Rae Design, was born!

After nine years of growing and developing my business in Brooklyn, our family set off on a new adventure down South. My husband Karl, our three year old son Miles, and I are excited to call Roswell, Georgia our home base! In a surprise twist, musical theatre wasn’t quite finished with me yet. Our new proximity to City Springs Theatre Company has given me the chance to get back on the stage. And the shakeup has brought about the opportunity to collaborate with my husband, head of Say Hey KP DJ Services, to launch Self Portrait Southeast under the umbrella of our family brand PWZ Creative.

Lindsay Rae Design continues to flourish (pun intended) in both the Southeast and the Northeast, deepening my commitment to bring life and love to every wedding day I work on. Through our experience, my team and I have expanded what we’re able to offer to include day-of, month-of, and total wedding coordination, as well as installations and overall design, in addition to the floral design that started it all. I adore working with couples, learning about their journey, and making their story come alive on one of the most significant days of their lives.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I will say it’s been a fairly smooth road, but maybe not a straight one if that makes sense. I started my company working out of my apartment. When it eventually became clear we’d outgrown those days, we naturally progressed to renting a studio in Gowanus, Brooklyn. As Lindsay Rae Design has grown, I’ve had to learn about all sorts of things, from staffing to scheduling, supply chains, and more, and to constantly push myself artistically. And then, the last two years have definitely been a challenge, navigating the pandemic. But thankfully, I’ve been able to pivot to smaller scale deliveries and more intimate parties while weddings took a pause. In a way, I felt uniquely prepared to work from home since that’s where I’d started the business all those years ago, after all. While the path hasn’t been altogether free of obstacles, there’s always been a creative way to make it work, sometimes even leading to new outlets I might not have explored otherwise.

Now, I’m working to take what I built in NYC and parlay that into the same strong presence here in Georgia. Running a business isn’t always predictable and can sometimes test you. But I continue and encourage other creatives out there as well to face each hurdle with optimism. I, for one, look forward to finding out what I may overcome in the future and what I may build for my business and my family that I might have never seen coming.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
There are two big things that drive Lindsay Rae Design. The first is that I never tire of providing the wedding of couples’ dreams. A lot of my passion for floral design and wedding coordination stems from how magical my own wedding was. So it always makes me sincerely excited to learn what my clients love and give them that on their big day. Of course, I have my own aesthetic that I like to create and share. Just like how each couple is different from the last, I like to let the flowers themselves guide me, informing the shapes I create. The unique nature of each event keeps me on my toes to craft something really effortless and special, so the couples I work with want to relive their wedding again and again, the way I sort of get to in my work.

The other thing that makes me really proud is the family nature of my business. Not only do I work in a couple of different capacities with my husband, whom I adore. I’ve also been able to create something of a family with the friends and loyal colleagues I’ve kept close as we’ve expanded. And I get to show my son, just by doing what I love, that a female business owner is unstoppable. Not to mention, every wedding day I get to design is literally the day that two individuals become a family. I can’t imagine a better thing to celebrate!

Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
One bit of advice that I learned from experience when it comes to networking is very simple: Ask. Just pinpoint someone whose work you admire, and ask them to coffee or out for a cocktail. It doesn’t have to be high-commitment. If you ask, the answer might be yes. If you don’t, it’s no. And people can’t be aware of the kind of work you want to do if you don’t let them know. Generally, I’ve found that people love helping others. I used to be so intimidated by other designers in my industry, but it only took one instance of putting myself out there to realize that people want to share their experiences – good or bad – and help others avoid some of the road bumps they’ve encountered!

Also, getting to know a variety of vendors in your industry is key. Don’t only reach out to people who do exactly what you do. Think of the bigger picture. For me, I’ve gained so much from connecting with photographers, planners, DJ’s, etc. The more people who know about the unique things you’re doing, the more your businesses get talked about and shared with others! Take pride in what you do, and for everything you hope to gain from a potential mentor or collaborator, don’t forget the things you have to offer!

Contact Info:

• Email: info@lindsayraedesign.com
• Website: https://www.lindsayraedesign.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lindsraedesign/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lindsayraedesign
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/lindsraedesign

Image Credits
https://brittsmith.co/
https://maggiemarguerite.com/
http://www.ashadamsphoto.com/
https://www.kbtproductionsphotography.com/